Used to is used to express habits in the past.
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Used to Examples
- This is Jack. He gave up smoking two years ago. He no longer smokes. But he used to smoke. He used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day.
- I used to love her but now I have somebody else.
- My mother used to wake up early when she was a teacher.
- Did you use to do exercises every morning when you were young?
- We used to be friends but now he hates me.
When to Use Used to
He used to smoke means that he smoked regularly for some time in the past, but he doesn’t smoke now :
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We use used to with the infinitive (used to do/ used to smoke etc.) to say that something regularly happened in the past but no longer happens. Let’s see the following examples :
- I used to play tennis a lot, but now I’m too lazy.
- Do you go to the cinema very often?’ ‘Not now, but I used to.’
We also use used to for past situations (which no longer exist). Let’s see the following examples :
- we used to live in a small village but now we live in Jakarta.
- This building is now a furniture shop. It used to be a cinema
Used to + infinitive is always past. There is no present. You
cannot say ‘I use to do’. For the present ‘ use the present simple (I do). Let’s see the following examples !
| Past | Present |
| He used to smoke. I used to live in Saint Thomas. There used to be …. |
He smokes. I live in Halifax. There is ….. |
The normal question form is did … use to …? Let’s see the following examples :
- Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child?
The negative form is didn’t use to … (or ‘used not to’). Let’s see the following examples :
- Jack didn’t use to go out very often until he met Jane.
Be careful not to confuse I used to do and I am used to doing. Structures and meanings are different. Let’s see the following examples !
- I used to live alone . (= I lived alone but no longer live alone.)
- I am used to living alone .(= I live alone and don’t find it strange or new because I’ve been living alone for some time.)
See active and passive voice exercises here.
Used to versus Be Used to
The difference between used to and be used to is that used to is for habits in the past while be used to is for a new habit. Be used to is used to express that we are accustomed to something or new activities. This activities must be a noun or a gerund (verb+ing).
Examples
See the following examples:
- When I was young, I used to smoke. But now, I am used to jogging more regularly.
- Since we had three children, we are used to the noise they make every day.
- Since my wife passed away, I am used to sleeping alone. Sometimes I feel lonely.
- We used to have meals together but now she’s gone. I have to get used to having my meals alone.
- Are you used to hot weather?
Used to Exercises
Used to Sentences Exercises
Complete the sentences below with used to and a correct word!
- Your mother doesn’t cry so much now but she ……………. every day before you came back .
- She ………………. my girlfriend but now I am married to someone else.
- We live in Bandung now but we …………… in Jakarta.
- Now there’s only one woman in my heart but there………….. three.
- When I was a child I …………….. football, but I don’t like it now.
- I ……… but now I don’t. I prefer my health to cigarettes.
- Our family ………. in Oslo but now we live in Flaam.
- My wife ………… late when she was young but now she always wakes up early.
- We ………….. junk food but now we eat more fruit and vegetables.
- We also ……… coffee but now we drink more plain water.
Used to Completing Table Exercises
Use your imagination to complete the table describing Jack’s habit at twenties and at sixties. Use the phrases provided. Number 1 has been done for you.
get up early, work in an office, go to night clubs, sing rock songs, travel a lot, have a lot of meetings, smoke, go to bed early, have lunch out, spend a lot of time with friends
| At Twenties (the past) | At Sixties (now) |
|---|---|
|
|
Used to Question Exercises
Answer the following questions about your past habit.
- Did your mother use to wake you up when you were in Elementary School?
- What did you use to do when you were alone at home?
- What did you use to do when you were hungry?
- With whom did you use to sleep when you were 9 or younger?
- What did you use to do when you were sad?
Used to and Be Used to Exercises
Complete the sentences with the correct word form in the box.
|
eat |
smoke | live |
| ski | dance |
live |
- I used …………….. when I was young. My teeth were yellow because of the nicotine.
- My daughter is used ………….. alone since she had a job in another town.
- The soldiers have been used …………. in the desert since the war broke out.
- Cats generally eat meat but my cat is used ……….. fried rice.
- I’ve never been to Scandinavia before so I am not used ………although there is a lot of snow at the moment.
Answer
Used to Sentences Exercises
- Your mother doesn’t cry so much now but she used to cry every day before you came back.
- She used to be my girlfriend but now I am married to someone else.
- We live in Bandung now but we used to live in Jakarta.
- Now there’s only one woman in my heart but there used to be three.
- When I was a child I used to play football, but I don’t like it now.
- I used to smoke but now I don’t. I prefer my health to cigarettes.
- Our family used to live in Oslo but now we live in Flaam.
- My wife used to wake up late when she was young but now she always wakes up early.
- We used to eat junk food but now we eat more fruit and vegetables.
- We also used to drink coffee but now we drink more plain water.
Used to Completing Table Exercises
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| At Twenties (the past) | At Sixties (now) |
|---|---|
| 1. He used to get up early. 2. He used to work in an office. 3. He used to go to night clubs. 4. He used to sing rock songs. 5. He used to travel a lot. 6. He used to have a lot of meeting. 7. He used to smoke. 8. He never used to go to bed early. 9. He used to have lunch out. 10. He used to spend a lot of time with friends. |
1. He gets up late.
2. He doesn’t work anymore.
3. He stays at home at night.
4. He doesn’t sing any songs.
5. He stays at home a lot.
6. He hardly has a meeting.
7. He doesn’t smoke.
8. He goes to bed early.
9. He has lunch at home.
10. He spends a lot of time with his wife.
|
Used to Question Exercises
Different answers are possible.
- Yes, she did. She used to wake me up because I never woke up by myself.
- When I was alone at home, I used to lock all the doors and stay in my bed.
- When I was hungry, I used to buy some snacks.
- When I was 9 or younger, I used to sleep with my mother.
- When I was sad, I used to cry and ask my mom to hug me.
Used to and Be Used to Exercises
- I used to smoke when I was young. My teeth were yellow because of the nicotine.
- My daughter is used to living alone since she had a job in another town.
- The soldiers have been used to living. in the desert since the war broke out.
- Cats generally eat meat but my cat is used to eating fried rice.
- I’ve never been to Scandinavia before so I am not used to skiing although there is a lot of snow at the moment.
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